Junior Manufacturing Engineer

Actalent; Appleton (WI); On-site; USD 40,000 - 57,000; Part time

Job summary

Actalent is seeking a Junior Manufacturing Engineer in Appleton, WI to analyze production processes and drive improvements. You will conduct time studies, map processes, and develop work instructions within a contract role on the manufacturing floor.

Ideal candidates hold a bachelor's in IE/Manufacturing/Mechanical engineering and have about 3 years of engineering experience, with strong Excel/data analysis skills and cross-functional collaboration. On-site work with Lean initiatives offered.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Industrial Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, or Mechanical Engineering is required.
• 3 years of engineering experience (internships or co-op) expected.
• Foundational understanding of manufacturing processes and industrial engineering principles.

Responsibilities

• Conduct time studies to evaluate production processes and identify opportunities to increase efficiency and reduce waste.
• Develop, update, and maintain process maps to document current-state workflows and support continuous improvement initiatives.
• Create, update, and standardize work instructions to ensure consistent methods, product quality, and operator compliance.
• Perform bottleneck analyses to identify production constraints and recommend practical process improvements.
• Assist with capacity modeling and forecasting to support production planning and effective resource allocation.
• Analyze labor utilization and support labor balancing efforts across manufacturing operations to optimize staffing and productivity.
• Collect and analyze operational data to identify trends, performance gaps, and improvement opportunities.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to implement process improvements and monitor results for effectiveness and sustainability.
• Support Lean Manufacturing and continuous improvement projects focused on reducing waste and increasing productivity.
• Prepare clear reports and presentations summarizing findings, recommendations, and project outcomes for stakeholders.

Skills

Analytical skills

Data analysis

Excel proficiency

Communication skills

Organizational skills

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

Bachelor's degree in Industrial Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, or Mechanical Engineering

Tools

Microsoft Excel

Job description

Job Title: Junior Manufacturing EngineerJob Description

This Junior Manufacturing Engineer role focuses on analyzing and improving production processes to enhance efficiency, quality, and productivity. You will support time studies, process mapping, and continuous improvement initiatives while collaborating with cross-functional teams to implement data-driven solutions across manufacturing operations.

Responsibilities

• Conduct time studies to evaluate production processes and identify opportunities to increase efficiency and reduce waste.

• Develop, update, and maintain process maps to document current-state workflows and support continuous improvement initiatives.

• Create, update, and standardize work instructions to ensure consistent methods, product quality, and operator compliance.

• Perform bottleneck analyses to identify production constraints and recommend practical process improvements.

• Assist with capacity modeling and forecasting to support production planning and effective resource allocation.

• Analyze labor utilization and support labor balancing efforts across manufacturing operations to optimize staffing and productivity.

• Collect and analyze operational data to identify trends, performance gaps, and improvement opportunities.

• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to implement process improvements and monitor results for effectiveness and sustainability.

• Support Lean Manufacturing and continuous improvement projects focused on reducing waste and increasing productivity.

• Prepare clear reports and presentations summarizing findings, recommendations, and project outcomes for stakeholders.

Essential Skills

• Bachelor's degree in Industrial Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or a related field.

• 03 years of engineering experience, including internships or co-op experience.

• Foundational understanding of manufacturing processes and industrial engineering principles.

• Proficiency with Microsoft Excel and other data analysis tools.

• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with a focus on data-driven decision-making.

• Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple tasks and projects.

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills for documenting processes and presenting findings.

Additional Skills & Qualifications

• Experience or coursework in industrial engineering, manufacturing engineering, time studies, continuous improvement, or process improvement.

• Exposure to Lean Manufacturing concepts and continuous improvement methodologies.

• Experience preparing technical reports and presentations for diverse audiences.

Work Environment

This position is offered as a 6-month contract role. You will work in a manufacturing-focused environment where you engage closely with production operations, engineering teams, and continuous improvement initiatives. The role involves both office-based analytical work, such as data analysis and documentation, and time spent on the production floor conducting time studies, observing processes, and collaborating with operators and cross-functional teams.

Job Type & Location

This is a Contract position based out of Appleton, WI.

Pay and Benefits

The pay range for this position is $35.00 - $35.00/hr.

Individual compensation offered for this position within this range will depend on many factors, including qualifications, skills, relevant experience, job knowledge, geographic location, internal equity, and other pertinent job-related factors.

Eligibility requirements apply to some benefits and may depend on your job classification and length of employment. Benefits are subject to change and may be subject to specific elections, plan, or program terms. If eligible, the benefits available for this temporary role may include the following: Medical, dental & vision Critical Illness, Accident, and Hospital 401(k) Retirement Plan Pre-tax and Roth post-tax contributions available Life Insurance (Voluntary Life & AD&D for the employee and dependents) Short and long-term disability Health Spending Account (HSA) Transportation benefits Employee Assistance Program Time Off/Leave (PTO, Vacation or Sick Leave)

Job Type & Location

This is a Contract position based out of Appleton, WI.

Application Deadline

This position is anticipated to close on Oct 28, 2026.

Workplace Type

This is a fully onsite position in Appleton,WI.

About Actalent

Actalent is a global leader in engineering and sciences services and talent solutions. We help visionary companies advance their engineering and science initiatives through access to specialized experts who drive scale, innovation and speed to market. With a network of almost 20,000 consultants and 5,000 clients across the U.S., Canada, Asia and Europe, Actalent serves many of the Fortune 500. We are proud to be an Engineering News-Record (ENR) Top 500 Design Firm for our engineering design services and a ClearlyRated Best of Staffing® winner for both client and talent service.

The company is an equal opportunity employer and will consider all applications without regard to race, sex, age, color, religion, national origin, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information or any characteristic protected by law.

If you would like to request a reasonable accommodation, such as the modification or adjustment of the job application process or interviewing process due to a disability, please email [e-mail] for other accommodation options.

San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance: Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, for all positions located in the city and county of San Francisco, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.

Massachusetts Lie Detector: It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI): We may use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to support parts of our hiring process, including sourcing, screening, and evaluating candidates. AI helps assess applications and qualifications, but final decisions are made by our hiring team. By applying, you acknowledge and agree that your application may be reviewed using AI tools.